Canadian Medical Association Code of Ethics 1965
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CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION CODE OF ETHICS 1965 Transcribed from the original by A Keith W Brownell MD, FRCPC and Elizabeth “Libby” Brownell RN, BA April 2001 INTERNATIONAL CODE OF MEDICAL ETHICS OF THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Duties of Doctors in General 1. A DOCTOR MUST always maintain the highest standards of professional conduct. 2. A DOCTOR MUST NOT allow himself to be influenced merely by motives of profit. 3. THE FOLLOWING PRACTICES ARE DEEMED unethical: 4. a. Any self advertisement except such as is expressly authorized by the national code of medical ethics. 5. b. Taking part in any plan of medical care in which the doctor does not have professional independence. 6. c. To receive any money in connection with services rendered to a patient other than the acceptance of a proper professional fee, or to pay any money in the same circumstances without the knowledge of the patient. 7. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES is a doctor permitted to do anything that would weaken the physical or mental resistance of a human being except from strictly therapeutic or prophylactic indications imposed in the interest of the patient. 8. A DOCTOR IS ADVISED to use great caution in publishing discoveries. The same applies to methods of treatment whose value is not recognized by the profession. 9. WHEN A DOCTOR IS CALLED UPON to give evidence or a certificate he should only state that which he can verify. Duties of Doctors to the Sick 10. A DOCTOR MUST always bear in mind the importance of preserving human life. 11. A DOCTOR OWES to his patient complete loyalty and all the resources of his science. Whenever an examination or treatment is beyond his capacity he should summon another doctor who has the necessary ability. 12. A DOCTOR OWES to his patient absolute secrecy on all which has been confided to him or which he knows because of the confidence entrusted to him. 13. A DOCTOR MUST GIVE the necessary treatment in emergency, unless he is assured that it can and will be given by others. Duties of Doctors to Each Other 14. A DOCTOR OUGHT to behave to his colleagues as he would have them behave to him. 15. A DOCTOR MUST NOT entice patients from his colleagues. 16. A DOCTOR MUST OBSERVE the principles of ‘The Declaration of Geneva’ approved by The World Medical Association. 1965. A (April 21, 2001) 1 CODE OF ETHICS “He should be modest, sober, patient, prompt to do his whole duty without anxiety; pious without going so far as superstition; conducting himself with propriety in his profession, and in all the actions of his life.” – Hippocrates. Introductory “As ye would that men should to do you, do ye even so to them,” is a Golden Rule for all men. A Code of Ethics for physicians can only amplify or focus this and other golden rules and precepts to the special relations of practice. As a stream cannot rise above its source, so a code cannot change a low-grade man into a high-grade doctor, but it can help a good man to be a better man and a more enlightened doctor. It can quicken and inform a conscience, but not create one. Only in a few things can it decree ‘thou shalt’ or ‘thou shalt not’, but in many things it can urge ‘thou shouldst’, or ‘thou shouldst not’. While the highest service they can give to humanity is the only worth-while aim for those of any profession, it is so in a special sense for physicians, since their services concern immediately and directly the health of the bodies and minds of men. Of the Duties of Physicians to Their Patients For the honourable physician the first consideration will always be the welfare of the sick. On his conscience rest the comfort, the health and the lives of those under his care. To each he gives his utmost in science and art and human helpfulness. Their confidences are safe in his keeping, except in those rare instances when the safe-guarding of society imposes a higher law and except when the physician is performing a service to his patient by submitting necessary information to a third party with the consent of the patient or a responsible relative or guardian. He does not multiply costs without need, nor raise needless fears, nor allay fears without full consideration. Even when he cannot cure he will alleviate, and be counselor and friend. It is a special duty for one who stands guard over the lives of men to keep his art and his science in good repair, to enlarge and refresh his knowledge constantly, and to give his patients treatment that is not only sympathetic, but the best possible in the circumstances. To this end he will be ever anxious, by reading and postgraduate training, to keep abreast of modern advances in medicine; and also he will always be willing to check and supplement his diagnosis, treatment and prognosis by consultation. No excellence in one respect can excuse slipshod, ignorant or out-dated service. Every physician should practice the art as well as the science of medicine. To this end every patient is entitled to a careful history and a thorough physical 1965. A (April 21, 2001) 2 examination as well as having made available all the procurable aids that science has developed for use in diagnosis and treatment, whenever in the judgment of his physician these are indicated. In short, let it be said once again that the greatest well-being of the sick person should be the whole study and care of the honourable physician. “The greatest trust between man and man is the trust of giving counsel.” - Francis Bacon. Of the Duties of Physicians Regarding Consultations It is the duty of the attending physician to accept the opportunity of a second opinion in any illness that is serious, obscure or difficult, or when consultation is desired by the patient or by persons authorized to act on the patient’s behalf. While the physician should name the consultant he prefers, he should not refuse to meet the physician of the patient’s choice, though he may urge, if he so thinks, that such consultant has not the qualifications or experience that the existing situation demands. In the following circumstances, it is particularly desirable that the attending physician, while dealing with an emergency when this exists, should, whenever possible, secure consultation with a colleague: a. When the propriety of performing an operation or of adopting a course of treatment which may entail considerable risk to the life, activities or capacities of the patient has to be considered, and particularly when the condition which it is sought to relive by this treatment is in itself not dangerous to life. b. When operative measures involving the death of the foetus or an unborn child are contemplated, particularly if labour has not begun. c. When there are grounds for suspecting that the patient i. Has been subjected to an illegal operation, or ii. Is the victim of criminal poisoning. Since consultation is planned wholly for the good of the sick person, there should enter into it no trace of insincerity, rivalry or envy. The attending physician and the consultant may examine the patient together or the consultant may examine the patient alone. The attending physician should, as a rule, give the consultant a brief oral or written history of the case before he examines the patient. If possible, the attending physician and consultant should discuss the case in private, and the consultant should record his opinion either on the hospital records and/or by closed letter addressed to the attending physician. Their joint decision should be communicated to the patient and his family by the attending physician, supplemented, if necessary, by the consultant. If agreement as to 1965. A (April 21, 2001) 3 diagnosis and treatment is not possible, and if either doctor is convinced that the future well-being of the patient is concerned is in jeopardy, a further opinion should be sought and the patient and/or the family should be informed of this by the attending physician, and the necessity for such action also explained. If the attending physician should retire from the case, the consultant should not replace him during the present illness, except at the request of the attending physician or with his approval. Patients Referred to Physicians or Sent to Hospitals When a patient has been sent either for office examination and treatment or admission to a hospital under the consultant’s care, it is the duty of the consultant to report findings and discuss them with the attending physician so that the latter may have all possible advantage from the consultation. It is equally the duty of the physician referring a patient to give as full information as possible to the consultant. At the conclusion of the examination and treatment by the consultant the patient should be referred back to the attending physician with an adequate report. The Induction of Abortion The induction or procuring of abortion involves the destruction of life. It is a violation both of the moral law and of the criminal code of Canada, except when there is justification for its performance. The only justification is that the continuance of pregnancy would imperil the life of the mother. It is appreciated, however, that there are certain faiths which, on religious grounds, do not recognize this exception. Such an operation should never be undertaken unless the attending physician and consultant agree as to the necessity for such action; the consultant must be a physician in good standing and his recommendation should be put in writing.